Sample taking tool for oil wells



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Aug, 23, 1938.

Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATI-:s

PATE OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in well formation testing or sampling tools commonly used in ascertaining the quality and quantity ofoil, gas and the like as it exists in a formation at any desired drilling level. The improved tool has been devised to overcome certain objectionable features found in tools of this general type as heretofore constructed. For example, certain types of sampler tools have been devised with exposed valves and operating mechanism which become fouled and thus fail to function prop erly due to the mud and other foreign materials in the well blocking or sanding up their action, with the result that the valves close either prematurely, prior to taking the sample, or fail to operate properly when the sample is taken. Such types of tools generally employ a mechanis'm which is controlled by the dropping of a weight, known in the art as a devil chaser. from the top of the well or ground surface through the drill stem to eii'ect the release of a valve latch in the tool and thereby open the valve for admission of a sample of the fluid into the tool and drill stem. In this type of tool, as aforestated, the mud and sand encountered at the zone of test ofttimes causes the valves to foul and stick, or an operating weight to hang in the drill stem, preventing proper operation of the tool which causes pollution of the sample and renders it unfit for a correct analysis.

Other types of sample taking tools have valves `which are adapted to be actuated by the weight of the drill stem on the tool after seating in the formation orv rat hole. -In this type, consid- A erable diiculty is likewise encountered in preventing leakage, and clogging or sanding of the Valve, as well as premature opening of the valve due to striking an obstruction at some point above the desired test level. v

In sampling tools of the type wherein the valve is opened by relativerotation of the drill stem, it has been found that due to the diiiiculty in obtaining the exact degree of rotation from the top of the well, the packer, used to pack the tool o from the mud column in the well, becomes damaged and the seal between the sand to be tested and the mud column in the Well is thus destroyed.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a testing or sampling tool which meets and overcomes the foregoing diflicultles, and which at the same time is positive in operation and relatively simple in construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in a tool of the type specified permitting the drill stem to .be Sleely rotated* from the top of (c1. 1st-1)` the well or at the ground level without damaging the sealing effect of the packer.

Another object of the invention is to generally improve tools of this class.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken Yin conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a View in section and elevation of a testing or sampling tool constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in longitudinal section of the valve housing portion of the tool, the mechanism for breaking the' seal being shown set or cocked for the seal breaking operation; and,

Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of the valve housing of Fig. 2 showing'the seal-releasing or puncturing mechanism after it has been fired or released.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral 5 indicates the lower end of a drill stem which has threaded on the end thereof a tubular connection or hollow stem 6 forming part of a coupling unit generally indicated at l, said unit including a. nipple 8, a cap screw 9, a lower tubular connection or hollow packer stem I0, and a bearing II. The stem 6 is formed with an an' nular bearing flange I 2 and the sleeve 8 is formed with a similar flange I3, said flanges coacting to provide a bearing race for the bearing I I.- and which is shown as of the ball type. Suitable packing I4 and Ita is inserted in the sleeve 8 above and below the anges I2 and I3.

The member I@ is formed with a ange I5 below which a packer unit I6 is inserted and is held in position by means of a threaded coupling Whenvthe unit is lowered into the casing with the packer I6 in sealing position above th`e rat hole I8, the weight of the drill pipe will be taken by the bearing I I, so that the drill stem and connections thereto may. be freely rotated without interfering with the position of the packer I6, or without causing rotation of the latter.

'I 'he improved valve assembly is housed in la short pipe length or connection 20 defining a valve housing and a chamber 20a, the member 20 at its upper end being connected to the member I0 by the coupling I1 and at its lower end having connected thereto an inlet nipple 2| which is formed-with a plurality of inlet holes or perforations 22. Between the upper end of the nipple 2l and the lower end of the valve housing 20 .a sealing disc 23 of any suitable material of ,Sllcient strength to withstand the pressures to which it may be subjected is provided such as steel or malleable iron. Above the disc or seal 23 is mounted a gun ring 24 formed with one-or more bores for receiving one or more gun barrels 25 in each of which a cartridge 26 may be inserted. These barrels 25 are removable for loading purposes and for this purpose may be threaded into the bores provided therefor as indicated at 2l, the heads thereof being suitably slotted to receive a screwdriver or the like to facilitate removal. Firing pins 28 are mounted in openings provided therefor in the ring 24 in firing alignment with the cartridges 26, and these pins may be driven into firing position by means of triggers 29 pivotally mounted on bearing pins 30 above the gun ring 24, each trigger being formed with a lug or projection 3| which is engaged by -an actuating spring 32 secured at one end to the periphery of the barrel 24. The gun ring may be locked in position in the chamber 20a by a threaded retaining ring 24a.

A main piston valve generally indicated at 33 is slidably mounted in the cylindrical chamber 20a of the housing 20 and is provided with a depending stub 33a having thereon a trigger release member in the form of a disc 35, which at its periphery'is adapted to engage the respective triggers 29 and hold the latter in cocked position. This valve 33 is provided with a closure member in the form ofl a piston 34 having a sealing ring 34 therein. A valve seat 34a is formed around the inner wall of the housing 20 on which y the closure member or piston 34 is adapted t0 seat. Above the valve 33, the inner wall of the cylindrical housing 20 is formed with a series of clearance channels 3411.l

During shipment, and while handling prior to actual use or lowering to sample-taking position, screws 36 and 31 may be screwed through the wall of the housing 20 and'into positions to lock the trigger disc 35 in its lowermost position to hold the triggers 29 in cocked position and thus avoid any danger of premature lifting of the valve and consequent explosion of the cartridges 26. When the tool is lo'wered into the casing, these screws are of courseremovedand substituted by plugs 38.

In operation, the drill stem 5 with the improved testing tool thereon is lowered into the casing until the packer I6 seats on the rat hole I8, whereupon a suction or vacuum pressure isl applied to the piston valve 33 by exhausting air from -the hollow drill stem, pulling the latter upwardly and remasing the triggers 29, the latter striking the firing pins` and firing the cartridges 26 and discharging the projectiles 26a into and through the sealing disc 23. Fig. 2 shows the position before firing and Fig. 3 the position after ring. When the seal is pierced by either one or a plurality of projectiles, the iluid from the sand to be tested passes through these perforations and upwardly through the `chamber 20a past the unseated closure member 34 and into the hollow body of the tool and drill pipe. After a certain amount of the fluid has been permitted to pass into the pipe, the main valve is closed due to static pressure and gravity of the iluid column trapped within the drill stem.

It will be seen that with this type of tool, all of the valve parts or actuating mechanism are enclosed by the housing 2l) and fully protected from premature actuation. Furthermore, the

seal piercing action is positive and may be caused .to operate at any desired time.

It will be understood that the drawing is simply an illustration of a preferred arrangement for carrying out the enumerated objects, and that certain changes in construction and design may be adopted within the scope of the invention' and the like, a tubular member providing aA closed housing, a seal closing one end of the housing, one or more projectiles loaded with an explosive Isubstance mounted above said seal within the housing, means for igniting said explosive substance to discharge the projectiles into and through the seal and pierce the latter, permitting iluid to pass into and through the housing, and valve means operating to close the housing subsequent to passage of iluid therethrough.

3. In a testing or sampling tool for oil wells and the like, a tubular member providing a receptacle for the fluid to be tested, a movable valve for trapping fluid to be tested in said receptacle, a, seal for closing the receptacle until the tool is in position to receive the iluid, means Within the receptacle impelled by an explosive substance for piercing said seal permitting the iluid to pass into said receptacle, and means associated with said valve for igniting the explosive. 4. In a testing or sampling tool for oil wells and the like, a tubular member providing a receptacle for the iluid to be tested, a housing connected to said member, a movable valvein said housing for trapping test fluid in the receptacle, a seal closing off passage of fluid into the receptacle until the'tool is in position to receive the fluid, a projectile loaded with an explosive substance mounted in said housing and directed toward said seal, a trigger for firing said explosive, and means controllable from a point remote from the tool for releasing said trigger.

5. In a testing or sampling tool for oil wells and the like, a drill stem, a tubular member connected to said stem, a housing in communication extension of said tubular member and having a valve seat therein and a movable valve adapted to engage said seat, a seal closing the lower end of said housing, means supporting one or more loaded projectiles in` said housing and directed at said seal, triggers mounted in firing proximity to said projectiles, and a trigger release member connected to said valve for holding said triggers in cocked position, said release member being freed from said triggers upon unseating .of 4said va ve. f

to engage said seat, said valve being displaceable 7. In a testing or sampling tool for oil wells and the like, a drill stem, a tubular member connected to said stem and providing a receptacle for fluid to be tested, a housing constituting an extension of said tubular member and having a valve seat therein and a movable valve adapted to engage said seat, said valve being adapted to be unseated by suction applied through the drill stem, a sealing disc closing the lower end of said housing, means supporting one or more loaded projectiles mounted in said housing and directed at said seal, iiring pins loperatively mountedin said projectile-supporting means, triggers mounted in lring proximity to said firing pins, and a trigger release member connected to said valve for holding said' triggers in cocked position until the tool is in position for receiving the test iiuid.

8. In a testing or sampling tool for oil wells and the like, a drill stem, a tubular memberconnected to said stem, a housing in communication with said' tubular member and having a valve seat therein and a movable valve adapted through suction applied through said drill stem, a sealing disc fixed in the lower portion of said housing, means supporting one or more loaded projectiles mounted in said housing and directed at said disc, firing pins operatively mounted in said projectile-supporting means, spring-pressed triggers mounted in firing proximity to said pins, and a trigger-engaging member connected to said valve for holding said triggers in cocked position until the tool is in position to receive the test iiuid, said trigger release member being released upon unseating of said valve.

9. In a testing or sampling tool for oil wells and the like, a drill stem, a tubular member connected to said stem and providing a conduit in communication with the stem, a valve housing connected to the lower end of said tubular member and havinga valve seat therein and a suction-release piston valve adapted to engage said seat, a sealing disc for closing the lower end of said housing until the tool is in position to receive the fluid to be tested, a ring mounted above said disc and 'formed with a plurality of bores pins movably mounted in said ring above said barrels, triggers mounted in tiring proximity to said pins, a trigger release member connected to said valve for holding said triggers in cocked position, said member being released from said triggers upon displacement of said valve from its seat.

10. In a testing or sampling tool for oil wells and the like, a hollow pipe member providing a housing, a sealing disc closing one end of said housing, a movable vvalve mounted in said housing, a projectile-supporting member located in said housing between said valve and disc, a removablebarrel having a projectile therein mounted in said supporting member to point toward said disc, said barrel being removable for loading purposes, and means for ring said projectiles.

1l. In a testing or sampling tool for oil wells and the like, a drill stem, a tubular member connected to said stem, a housing in communication with said tubular member and having a valve seat therein and a movable valve adapted to envalve and adapted to engage and hold the triggers in position until the valve is unseated, and an 'inlet nipple connected to the lower end of said housing and removably locking the disc between the housing and nipple.

12. In a testing or sampling tool for oil wells and the like. a drill stem, a tubular housing con nected to said stem for ,relative rotatlon,` said housing having a sealing disc closing one end thereof, axially movable means operable to close communication between said housing and drill stem at the other end of said housing, and a projectile ilring mechanism mounted within said housing between said axially movable means and 45 disc and operable by a movement of said axially movable means to discharge and direct a projectile at said disc for puncturing the same.

SAMUEL A. MULLINS. 

